ARROCHAR - St. Joseph Hill Academy basketball coach Mike O'Connor said, as policy, he generally doesn't take freshmen on varsity, but has made rare exceptions to the rule.

Sometime within the last year, when the longtime hoops mentor at the Arrochar school learned highly touted eighth-grader Kelsey Carey would travel from her Prince's Bay home to at´tend Hill, he initially didn't set anything in stone.

But he remembers quickly changing his mind during tryouts last fall.

"I had heard all good things about Kelsey prior to her coming to Hill and saw her play twice last year, including the (CYO varsity) Jaques game," said O'Connor, a Tottenville resident. "She was dominating and, of course, I was considering her for varsity, but wasn't sure because, for various reasons, I usually don't take freshmen up.

"But after the first night of tryouts, I thought she was unbelievable and knew she would make the team," ad´mitted O'Connor. "By the last tryout, I knew she was going to start."

The rest, as they say, is history. But then again, the 15-year-old Carey, who has been as good as advertised after her first 16 high school games, might just be scratching the surface.

Carey, who gained a world of experience playing for the Diamonds travel program under Bob Daggett, Margie Lanigan and Lou Terrusa, said she wasn't sure if she'd even make var´sity this year.

"I really didn't think so at first," she said. "A lot of girls were trying out; they were older than me and they were good, so I wasn't sure.

"But after the first scrimmage, they asked me if I'd be comfortable playing up," Carey continued. "I was comfortable and I thought I'd be fine."

The 6-foot Carey has been more than fine, currently averaging 14.8 ppg., mostly behind a dominating presence in the paint. She's led all Island CHSAA players in scoring for a huge chunk of the season, has scored double digits in 12 games and scored 20 or more five times, including a career-high 24 in a recent win over Maria Regina.

In addition, Carey's been an exceptional rebounder and defensive presence.

"She has exceeded all expectations as a freshman on a pretty strong team," said O'Connor. "I've heard that as she matures, she'll be an impact player in our league. Well, I believe she's already matured.

"I think teams make game plans against us with (senior) Keelan (Smith) and Kelsey in mind.

"Teams are aggressive and physical against her, but she responds. She's got great composure, she's enthusiastic and doesn't make bad decisions."

Carey said her teammates and coaches have made her transition from her CYO days at Our Lady Star of the Sea to Hill an easy one.

"I love them. They've definitely made it easier for me (to get used to the high school level)," said Carey, who admitted that making a pass that leads to a basket for a teammate is more satisfying that scoring one herself. "Everyone's been very nice and have made me feel com´fortable."

And the Hilltoppers, to say the least, are hoping she remains comfortable during her remaining three-plus years in Arrochar.

"I think she's definitely a legitimate Division I player down the road," said O'Con´nor. "She's already an impact player and if she continues to improve, she may eventually be a dominant player in our league.

"And someday," the coach concluded. "She'll have lot of coaches looking at her."